Is Climate Change Really Our Problem?

It’s time to face some hard truths about the state of our environment and how climate change is being framed in Nigeria. We live in a nation where bureaucratic inefficiency and political trickery often dominate, with public officials frequently more interested in serving themselves than the public. Too often, these officials seize upon any crisis—real or exaggerated—to further their own agendas and enrich themselves at the expense of the country. We cannot let climate change become another excuse for such misconduct.

Look back to the COVID-19 lockdown when some officials claimed they were feeding schoolchildren who were stuck at home—an obvious ruse to siphon funds from the school feeding program. Others hoarded relief supplies meant for struggling families. We saw billions of naira sitting unused in government accounts, untouched even after the crisis. Then there were the centenary celebrations, where public funds were squandered, or the Abuja CCTV project that turned into a massive waste of resources. And most recently, the Nigeria Air debacle, where the promise of a national airline turned into a borrowed plane from Ethiopia and a string of financial scandals.

Now, with climate change, it is feared we’re seeing the same pattern unfold. Climate jargon is thrown around to confuse the public, while basic infrastructure issues are conveniently blamed on global warming. Lack of clean water, bad roads, erratic power supply—everything is being pinned on climate change, when in reality, these problems have long been neglected by those in power.

We’ll soon hear about new climate policies, advisory panels, and elaborate media campaigns all designed to justify the same old excuses. Meanwhile, our leaders will look to wealthier nations for aid, using climate change as a pretext to secure funds that may never benefit the people.

Yes, the developed world has contributed more to climate change, and they push for solutions. But we cannot lose sight of our own reality. Nigeria is far behind in terms of infrastructure and development. Our leaders should be focused on addressing those immediate challenges rather than using climate change as a scapegoat.

Reports show that Nigeria’s infrastructure stock is just 35% of GDP, compared to 70% for emerging economies. Our roads, power systems, healthcare, and education facilities are woefully inadequate. Without addressing these gaps, we’ll never achieve meaningful progress, climate crisis or not.

It’s also worth noting that weather refers to short-term conditions, while climate reflects long-term trends. Before our leaders start blaming climate change for all our problems, they should take a hard look at how well they’ve governed their own constituencies. How have they managed their resources? How have they supported communities in adapting to environmental challenges?

For instance, if a dam was built, it needs regular maintenance to prevent flooding. Neglecting this responsibility and then blaming climate change is simply dishonest. Just recently, the government set up a committee to re-evaluate our dams after a flood in Maiduguri. But had proper maintenance been carried out regularly, we could have avoided such devastation.

A Premium Times report after the 2022 floods revealed that desilting rivers and waterways could have significantly reduced the damage. Experts confirmed that while climate change played a role, poor governance and a lack of infrastructure were the real culprits.

CSR REPORTERS notes that the impacts of climate change in Nigeria are amplified because of our dysfunctional system. We lack proper infrastructure and environmental governance, which makes any natural event more catastrophic. We need real scientific studies and accountability from our leaders—not excuses disguised as eco-concern. It’s up to us to demand better.